Criminal Minds (Fox Meridian Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

window appeared in Fox’s vision field, tagged with Alice’s ID and image. That accent is dreamy. How do you keep your hands off him?
    Keeping the smirk off her face, Fox replied. Who says I do?
    ‘Our main concern,’ Jason said, oblivious to the text conversation, ‘is the amendment Wayden Executive Services have tendered concerning communications security.’
    ‘Interesting,’ Fox said. ‘Why?’
    ‘Because it is quite clear that NIX are behind it. The original regulation proposal states that communications should be “encrypted using suitable means,” which I believe to be a little vague and does need tightening. Wayden have specified a set of specific encryption mechanisms. For real-time communications, NIXRTE version six or seven, and for store and forward messages and file systems, they propose NIXES version nine. These are all good standards–’
    ‘But it’s widely believed that NIX have backdoor mechanisms into both,’ Jarvis said.
    ‘At least it’s not just me being paranoid,’ Fox added.
    ‘It is also more than a wide belief,’ Jason went on. ‘We have evidence suggesting that it is true of NIXRTE. It is unlikely that they would release a solid algorithm without such a vulnerability. The fact that all of these mechanisms are released as encrypted, black box software modules with little or no outside verification of the contents is another black mark against them.’
    ‘Shouldn’t be difficult to counter if we have an alternative,’ Eaves commented. ‘The National Intelligence Executive does not have an especially high public image.’
    ‘Which is why they have Wayden doing the work,’ Jarvis added. ‘What if we put in an alternative amendment calling for an internationally accepted encryption algorithm? It fixes the quality level, but not in such a narrow manner.’
    ‘And precludes the NIX protocols,’ Fox said. ‘They’ve refused a number of times to put their code through vetting. They say that it’s a security risk. Anyone who relies on “security through obscurity” is not doing their job and I’m sure the memetics department can work that kind of thing into the countermemes.’
    ‘I believe that would be a good counterproposal,’ Jason said. ‘More generally, and this is more of an undercurrent to our analysis than a real issue, we see too much involvement in the legislation from NIX. I think that they are attempting to gain heavy influence over internal policing in America.’
    ‘Oh, that’s more or less a certainty. We think they’ve got their claws in Wayden and they must have people embedded in NAPA.’
    ‘Which is worrying,’ Eaves continued, ‘given that NAPA will be responsible for monitoring the contracts and enforcing standards.’
    Jason nodded. ‘Again this is my opinion, not that of the UNTPP, but I believe that profiling your auditors for NIX involvement may be a requirement. They have a, probably reasonable, right to ensure that national security is covered, but covert manipulation of the rules is outside their remit, as I understand it.’
    ‘It is, but they tend to come up with “operational reasons” for a number of actions which are likely more to do with politics. And oversight of their activities is insufficient.’
    ‘What if we try to change that?’ Fox said.
    Eaves looked at her, frowning. ‘How?’
    ‘What if we put in an amendment to have NAPA’s regulatory function include policing activities carried out by NIX?’
    ‘We would never get it through.’
    ‘Maybe not. This time. Though I bet it’ll get strong public support. But it puts down a marker and we see about getting it put through as part of the metro policing resolution. If it’s put to public vote, they’ll have no choice but to accept it when it’s voted in, and the public doesn’t like NIX, so it will be.’
    ‘I thought you hated politics,’ Vaughn said, grinning.
    ‘I do, but bulldozing it is one of my only talents in that direction.’
    ‘If that’s your